WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #12

SPINDLE'S END by Robin McKinley gets signed out a lot in my classroom.  I've been told McKinley's fairy tale retellings are excellent.

SPINDLE'S END is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale that I hope to get around to reading in the future.

AFTER EVER AFTER by Jordan Sonnenblick

AFTER EVER AFTER by Jordan Sonnenblick is the sequel to DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIE. It is eight years later and life is continuing for the Alper family.

Jeffrey is ironically starting the eighth grade. That's the grade his older brother Steven was in when Jeffrey was diagnosed with leukemia. Jeffrey is now in remission from the disease, but he suffers from some side effects from the chemo treatment that saved his life. He walks with a limp, his attention wanders easily, and his brain just refuses to process anything related to math. Not a big deal, you say. Well, if your father is an accountant and the mailman has just delivered a letter saying that every eighth grader in the state must pass a set of required tests, including a math test, or repeat the eighth grade, let's just say things have looked rosier.

A lot of other things have changed for Jeffrey. His older brother Steven graduated from high school and went off to college. Again, not a big deal, but then Steven decided after three years of college that he would drop everything and head to Africa to become part of a drum circle. That left Jeffrey on his own to deal with his last year of middle school.

Fortunately, back in fourth grade, Jeffrey found his best friend Tad. Tad was also a cancer survivor. In fact, Tad had survived the disease twice. It left him weak enough to need a wheelchair, but it certainly strengthened his wit and wisdom when it came to dealing with daily life. When Tad learns about the state testing requirement, he steps up to help Jeffrey by becoming his official math tutor. The two make a deal that Jeffrey will study hard to pass the test, and Tad will train hard so he is able to walk across the eighth grade graduation stage under his own power.

Jordan Sonnenblick continues Jeffrey's story in his signature style using an authentic teenage voice and laugh-out-loud humor. By asking his main character to adjust to a learning disability and a physical handicap, as well as changes in his family structure, Sonnenblick creates a new depth to the sequel. The determination he showed as a young boy dealing with cancer helps him with the struggle to be successful at school and also at any new challenges thrown his way. This is a sequel I was not expecting, but I was thrilled when it came to my attention.

TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS

TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS is when I post the opening lines of the book I'm currently reading.
Every reader is different, but I know the opening lines of a book can make or break my reading experience. By sharing the first few lines of what I'm reading, perhaps I can tempt readers to check out a book they might otherwise have passed up.

Here's TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS #5.

AFTER EVER AFTER
by Jordan Sonnenblick
Chapter One: FOUR YEARS AGO

I'm in fourth grade.  One day, I'm sitting in my seat in class, minding my own business.  I'm kind of quiet, but everyone knows exactly who I am: Jeffrey Alper, That Kid Who Had Cancer.  There isn't a kid in the grade who hasn't eaten spaghetti at the church hall's annual Alper Family "Fun-Raiser" Dinner, or gotten dragged to a high school jazz band concert in my houor, or -- God help me -- bought a Save Jeffrey T-shirt.  If you were me, you'd try to keep a low profile, too.

THE DYING BREATH by Alane Ferguson

THE DYING BREATH by Alane Ferguson is her fourth novel classified as "a forensic mystery."  Just like the other three, THE DYING BREATH is filled with dead bodies, autopsies, and CSI-type crime solving. 

Cameryn is not your normal almost 18 year old.  She is assistant to the coroner, her father Patrick Mahoney.  Her interest in science and her talent at figuring out the puzzles behind mysterious deaths, has earned her the job and also the respect of local law enforcement officials and the medical examiner. 

When the local eccentric, Leather Ed, is found dead in his home, Cameryn is on the scene.  It doesn't take long for two more bodies to show up in the medical examiner's morgue, and again, Cameryn is front and center.  Her puzzle solving skills are needed when it is discovered that all three deaths were from the same strange cause. 

Helping solve the mystery of the three related deaths is complicated when Kyle O'Neil resurfaces threatening not only Cameryn's life, but also that of her boyfriend and local sheriff deputy, Jason.  While everyone tries to protect Cameryn, she argues that he has left a clue that only she can interpret.  Refusing to be kept "safe", Cameryn insists on taking an active role in finally catching this psychopathic killer.

Author Alane Ferguson does extensive research for each of her novels.  She attends autopsies and works with forensic pathologists so she can present accurate information in each mystery.  If you are looking for books with plenty of suspense, a good amount of gory stuff, and a little bit of romance, then Ferguson's books are for you.  Check out not only THE DYING BREATH, but also THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER, THE ANGEL OF DEATH, and THE CIRCLE OF BLOOD.

WIN A SIGNED COPY OF THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE

Author Catherine Ryan Hyde has generously donated a signed copy of her book THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE recently released in paperback. 

You have until January 15 at midnight to enter the giveaway contest. 

It is easy!  All you have to do is leave a comment about her interview or one of the following book reviews of a couple of her latest books - DIARY OF A WITNESS or THE DAY I KILLED JAMES.

For extra points -  +2 become a follower
                            +3 already a follower
                            +4 share your favorite book of 2009

Please include an email address so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.
*US and Canada entries only please.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH CATHERINE RYAN HYDE

Many people are familiar with the movie version of PAY IT FORWARD, but few realize the author of the book that inspired the movie is also the author of several YA novels. 

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of DIARY OF A WITNESS, THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE, and THE DAY I KILLED JAMES.  She graciously agreed to answer a few interview questions so readers could learn more about her.  Please enjoy the following interview.

Readingjunky: When did you first think about being a writer?

Catherine Ryan Hyde: When I was a sophomore in High School I had the pleasure of a year with Lenny Horowitz as my English teacher. He was such an inspiration to me that I wrote an essay about him, dedicated one of my young adult books to him, and am now searching for his son so I can share all this with him (sorry to say that, despite being very young, Lenny died many years ago).

For those interested in the whole story, it's "reprinted" on my blog at:

http://www.catherineryanhyde.com/catherineryanhyde/Blog/Entries/2009/3/20_“Reprint”_of_I_Owe_It_All_To_Lenny.html
RJ: What was your biggest inspiration for THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE?

CRH: Recovery. Recovery is incredibly difficult, but ultimately inspiring. I began my own recovery (from alcohol and drugs) on the 4th of February, 1989 (yes, I'm very old). I'll celebrate 21 years soon. It's hard to imagine taking such a rich-but-trying journey without finding a story in it, something I can share with others. Hopefully, I felt, this story might serve as a cautionary tale for young teens.
RJ: What drives your writing most? Characters, plot, personal experience …

CRH: I would say character. Definitely character more than plot. I let the character dictate the plot to some degree. If you know who the character is, and you know what "crosses him" (the basic conflict of the story), then it isn't hard to know what he will do and what he will learn from it. I want to take it a step further, though, and say it actually starts not with a character but with an emotion. The emotion leads to the character and the character leads to the story. And the emotion is my personal experience, because I could never write about an emotion I haven't experienced. Sometimes I weave in small bits of personal experience, just some of those little "life things" that you can't really make up, but they're never as key or important as people think. My fiction really is fiction.
RJ: Do any of your characters resemble you in any way?

CRH: I think they all resemble me in some way. If only in that we share emotion, as stated above. None of them are really a thinly-disguised me, however. They are all their own (fictional) people.
RJ: Does any particular type of music inspire your creativity?

CRH: Oddly enough, I really only listen to music when I drive. I never combine it with my writing. I have focus issues. I'm one of those people who can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. So writing is a pure experience for me.
RJ: Can you describe a day in your writing schedule?

CRH: Assuming I'm working on something, and it's going, I'll start right after my morning Yoga and tea. I'll work until I run into a natural stopping place (translation: what comes next isn't ready) and refine and refine and refine until I'm able to move forward again. I try to be mindful of taking breaks to eat, but I have a real singleness of focus, as mentioned. On a good day I might do this for ten or eleven hours.

RJ: What is most rewarding about being a published author?

CRH: There's a lot to choose from, because I really love what I do. But I would have to say it's when I open my inbox and find an email from a total stranger who loved one of my books enough to write and tell me so. Often it's a person who is clear about the fact that they have never written to an author before. Sometimes it's a teen who tells me he or she didn't even like books until reading ____ (fill in the blank with one of my titles). And it isn't really an ego-driven experience. It may sound like I'm saying I love it because they're praising me. But it's not really that. More that I've somehow made an emotional connection with someone whose path I never would have crossed otherwise. That's what I like best about writing. It's a type of emotional communication.
RJ: Who are some of your favorite authors?

CRH: I like Jonathan Safran Foer a lot. And I read a lot of YA fiction. Some YA authors I like are Marcus Zusak, Jerry Spinelli, Rodman Philbrick (though I guess he's more MG), David Levithan and Laurie Halse Anderson.
RJ: What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?

CRH: Don't write in a vacuum. Join a group, let others read your work, listen to their feedback. It hurts, but it hurts in a way you'll need to get used to. Expect rejection. It can't be avoided in this business. I'm getting rejections right now. I got literally hundreds before getting published. Make up your mind that it won't stop you.
RJ: Can you tell us anything about your current projects?

CRH: I leak a bit of info about them onto my blog when the timing is appropriate. Here is the info on my next YA, and I'm very excited about this one (even more than most):

http://www.catherineryanhyde.com/catherineryanhyde/Blog/Entries/2009/5/23_What’s_(Really)_New.html

And then here's some info on the newest adult title, which is so far only scheduled for release in the UK (but that will change in time):

http://www.catherineryanhyde.com/catherineryanhyde/Blog/Entries/2009/12/6_What’s_Next%2C_the_U.K._Version.html

RJ: And finally, what is your favorite way to relax?

CRH: To me, nothing is more relaxing than being out in nature. So it's a tie between kayaking in a very quiet place on still water (where I can set down my paddle and hear nothing but wind and birds) and hiking to the top of a high peak and looking down at how high I've climbed. Even a good couple-mile dog walk by the ocean (I'm lucky it's close by) will do nicely.

A great big thanks to Catherine for sharing not only her thoughts on the interview questions, but also a signed copy of THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE.  Check out the next blog post for a chance to win that signed copy!

THE DAY I KILLED JAMES by Catherine Ryan Hyde

THE DAY I KILLED JAMES is not the first book I've read by Catherine Ryan Hyde.  Having enjoyed all the others, I decided to pick up a copy of this one, and I'm glad I did.  As the title suggests, this is not a light-hearted romp, but then most of Hyde's books focus on serious subjects and how her characters deal with them.

Theresa, also known in part of the story as Annie, is plagued with guilt.  She is just finishing high school and finds her 22 year old neighbor James extremely annoying.  He seems to be everywhere.  He's nice enough and is always offering a helping hand.  One day it's washing her car and another it's fixing some transmission fluid leak.  All Theresa wishes is that he would leave her alone. 

The most important thing on Theresa's mind these days is figuring out what's up with her boyfriend Randy.  He seems to want to make their relationship some sort of "open" arrangement so he can see other girls.  That's the last thing Theresa wants, but if it will make him happy, she's willing to give it a chance.  Against her better judgment she follows a friend's advice and asks James to take her to a weekend party.  Knowing that Randy will be there with the other girl, she hopes when he sees her with James, he'll realize his mistake.

At the party that is indeed what happens, but Theresa never realized how much she would be hurting James by using him to make Randy jealous.  James sees Theresa kissing Randy, and he takes off on his motorcycle.  It is his final ride.  When the police investigation reveals no skid marks and no attempt to swerve, they rule the accident a suicide leaving Theresa racked with guilt.

In an attempt to escape the horrible situation, Theresa runs away and takes a tour guide job and begins to use the name Annie.  With some new friends met on the job and often working ten hours a day, Annie is able to muddle along, although James is always in her thoughts.  However, while living in a rundown trailer park, she meets an eleven year old girl living with her brother and an abusive mother.  Focusing on the problems of young Cathy allow Annie to realize running away from her own problems is not the right solution for the long term. 

In THE DAY I KILLED JAMES, Catherine Ryan Hyde explores love and the responsibility it carries with it.  Readers will watch as Theresa/Annie searches for the answers she needs to cope with her feelings of guilt enough to be able to honor James instead of just mourn him.  Several other titles by this author are the well-known PAY IT FORWARD and DIARY OF A WITNESS.  Blog followers should also watch for an upcoming contest offering a signed copy of Hyde's THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE.

TENTACLES by Roland Smith

TENTACLES is the sequel to Roland Smith's CRYPTID HUNTERS.  He continues the excitement begun in the Congo as Marty and Grace join Dr. Travis Wolfe in a new adventure to find a giant squid in the waters off New Zealand.

After Marty found out Grace was actually his cousin and not the twin sister he thought she was, their new life took them to the island of Cryptos to live with Grace's father Travis Wolfe.  This new adventure begins as their boarding school friend Luther arrives on the island.  The action starts off with a frantic chase to catch a chimpanzee named Bo as he terrorizes the island on a four-wheeler.  Using Luther's wild and crazy flaming red hair as bait, they are able to not only catch the chimp, but also get him aboard the newly renovated ship called the Coelacanth bound for New Zealand to capture a giant squid.

At the same time that Travis Wolfe and his crew are preparing for their journey, the famous and evil Noah Blackwood is preparing his ships to intercept the Coelacanth in an effort to kidnap Grace, his grand-daughter and steal two priceless dinosaur eggs or whatever may have already hatched from those valuable eggs. 

TENTACLES is filled with fast-paced action, high-tech gadgets, disguises, and double agents.  Teens looking for adventure and intrigue are sure to like this one.  There is excellent back-story information provided so even those who haven't yet read CRYPTID HUNTERS can enjoy the story.  Readers who are already fans of the first book will also be pleased to discover that TENTACLES will probably not be the last adventure for Marty and Grace.

RAGE: A LOVE STORY by Julie Anne Peters

Don't let the hot pink cover and the label A Love Story deceive you.  RAGE is Julie Anne Peters's most powerful book yet.  The focus is on an abusive dating relationship and the toll it takes on victim and villain alike.

Two girls with their own personal dysfunctional family issues are drawn together by mutual feelings of love and lust. 

Johanna has survived the death of both her parents and feels abandoned by her sister whose choice was to remain at college when Johanna needed her most.

Reeve and her twin brother Robbie live with daily abuse from a drug addicted mother and her controlling boyfriend.  She only knows one way to express her feelings, and Johanna becomes the recipient of a twisted kind of love.

Ever since Johanna laid eyes on Reeve, she has had fantasies about how things could be between them.  It doesn't matter that Reeve practices a sort of tough love with everyone she meets.  Reeve punching her brother and giving Johanna bruising kisses is just part of loving someone like her.  Johanna knows Reeve suffers at home and is sure that loving her unconditionally is a way to protect her and fix whatever is wrong. 

Despite warnings from her sister, her friend, and Reeve's old flames, Johanna continues the relationship even as she loses important pieces of her own life.  As long as Reeve returns after each incident, Johanna believes that love will hold the answers.

Julie Anne Peters has created a relationship that will leave readers with mixed emotions.  While trying to understand the power of love, they will be shaking their heads at the same time they are shaking their fists at the actions of characters on both sides of this tumultuous relationship.  RAGE provides an inside look at what might drive us to give up parts of ourselves for the sake of love.

WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #11

Being a hugh Gary Paulsen fan, I hate to admit I haven't read this one.

THE CAR is popular with my 8th boys, and they are always bugging me to read it.
Maybe 2010 will be the year.

TAKEN BY STORM by Angela Morrison

TAKEN BY STORM is the story of true love meant to last a lifetime but pulled in different directions by strong beliefs and life's experiences.

Michael and his parents have a great relationship.  Living between Arizona and Florida, they have an adventurous life.  Scuba diving and free diving have been part of Michael's life as long as he can remember.  He has probably spent more time with his parents on coral reefs and sunken wreckages then he has on dry land.  That is until the fateful boat trip that took them into the path of Hurricane Isadore.  Michael survived, but his parents were lost.

Now Michael is living with his grandmother in the Pacific Northwest, just about as far away from the Florida Keys as he can imagine.  He is facing his senior year in a new high school, and his nights are filled with nightmares of the hurricane and the screams of his parents.  The only thing Michael can think about is free diving.  It's the one thing that can save him from the helpless feelings haunting day and night.

Then he meets Leesie, a beautiful, God-fearing Mormon girl.  It's hard to believe he has room for thoughts of someone else, but Leesie has a way about her that reminds him of the floating sensation of a free dive.  She is easy to talk to and he finds himself sharing feelings he thought would be impossible to reveal to anyone. 

As their friendship moves toward romance, Michael learns Leesie has strong and unbending religious beliefs.  It seems the Mormons had rules about everything, and Leesie is bound and determined to adhere to those rules no matter what.  Although, she makes him feel better about things than he has since his parents' deaths, she also frustrates Michael beyond belief. 

TAKEN BY STORM is a unique mix of Leesie's poetry, Michael's reflection as written in his diving log, and online chatroom discussions.  Angela Morrison reveals two teens drawn together by love, yet pulled apart by vastily different goals and beliefs.  Readers will ride the emotional waves as the two determine whether either can change enough for the relationship to last a lifetime.

AND THE WINNER OF PURGE IS....

*Leanne*

Congratulations!  Just let me know where to send your prize, and I'll have it in the mail ASAP.

Look for a new contest soon.  This one will include an interview as well.

TAKEN by Norah McClintock

The disappearance of two girls from a small town has the community on high alert. When one the girls is found dead, parents are issuing strict words of caution to all teens about traveling in groups and not staying out after dark. Those words of caution go unheeded when Stephanie, angry at her mother, decides to take a shortcut across an empty field.

The next thing Stephanie knows, she is waking up in a deserted wilderness cabin with her hands and feet tied. Alone in the filthy, abandoned cabin, Stephanie realizes she needs to take action quickly. Who knows when her kidnapper will return? Using a nail, she loosens the rope on her wrists and is able to free herself. Grabbing a few scant items, she heads off into the surrounding woods.

Stephanie's back-story is slowly revealed as she stumbles along in search of safety. After the accidental death of her father several years earlier, her distraught mother sent her off to stay with her grandfather for the summer. While living with him for three months in his backwoods home, Stephanie learned to appreciate nature and the survival skills needed to exist in those primitive conditions. Now those skills are coming in handy as she attempts to survive and find help.

While trudging in what she hopes is a westerly direction, Stephanie's memory regarding her kidnapping begins to return. However, as hard as she tries to remember, all she can piece together is that someone jumped her from behind and apparently drugged her and left her tied up in the cabin. As angry as she remembers being at her mother and her mother's boyfriend, Gregg, Stephanie wishes she was home safe and sound.

Author Norah McClintock's TAKEN is a different twist on the usual survival story. Most such stories feature boys rather than girls, and the added mystery of a kidnapping increases the suspense. Although, the pieces to Stephanie puzzle are fairly easy to put together, TAKEN offers a fast-paced adventure that will interest most readers.

SETH BAUMGARTNER'S LOVE MANIFESTO by Eric Luper

Seth's summer vacation seems to be starting off rather nicely - lunch with his girlfriend at Applebee's. Unfortunately, lunch ends with Veronica breaking up with him, and to make matters worse, Seth sees his dad having what looks like a rather intimate lunch with a woman who is most definitely not his mother.

Eric Luper's latest novel, SETH BAUMGARTNER'S LOVE MANIFESTO, is filled with one great scene after another. If you are looking for a book that includes the frustration of teen romance, irritating parents, some podcasting humor complete with some great song suggestions, with a little bit of golf thrown in for good measure, then pick up a copy of this one when it comes out in June of 2010.
Seth uses his breakup with Veronica as inspiration to begin his Love Manifesto podcast. It starts out as a listing of the reasons he loves his ex-girlfriend but quickly includes all sorts of interesting stuff. He is surprised at the internet following he is able to generate, and he finds his broadcasts are an ideal stress-reliever. He'll just have to wait and see if it ends up winning Veronica back.
In the meantime, he is starting his fourth summer job. After several unfortunate terminations, he has lucked out and been hired to work in the golf club pro-shop. It's not a bad gig and will hopefully allow him easier access to the golf course to practice for the annual father/son tournament. Although, since seeing his father that day at lunch with another woman, just the thought of being in the same room with him is almost more than he can tolerate.

Thanks to his good friend Dimitri, the sudden attention of Dimitri's younger sister Audrey, and the time he spends working in his makeshift studio on his podcasts, Seth is able to find ways to improve on his summer's lousy start.
SETH BAUMGARTNER'S LOVE MANIFESTO is laugh-out-loud funny. Readers will find it easy to root for Seth as he struggles to recapture love and deal with his frustrating and mysterious father. Seth's mishaps make for many unexpected twists and turns that will take readers right up to the surprise ending. Be sure to watch for this one next year.

HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford

If you are looking for something a little different for your next reading experience, pick up a copy of HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford.

Bea is used to moving around. Her father, a college professor, is always on the lookout for new challenges so they have moved from one college town to another over the years. This move is a bit more unsettling since it's Bea's senior year, and for some unknown reason, her mother is acting strange.

After basically deciding to just coast through this final year of high school and just bid her time until she can head off to college on her own, Bea is pleasantly surprised when she actually makes a few friends. One of the most interesting people is someone everyone calls Ghost Boy. His name is Jonah, but since elementary school his quiet manner and pale complexion have made him the target of ridicule.

A friendship begins to develop between Bea and Jonah when he leaves her a note suggesting that she tune in to a late night radio talk show called Night Lights. As Bea listens to the odd characters who call in every night, she imagines Jonah in his darkened room listening, too. They find they have more and more in common and both feel comfortable when they are together.

As they grow closer, Jonah confides in Bea and tells her about his twin brother killed years before in a car accident along with their mother. He is convinced that Matthew is really still alive and asks Bea's help in the search to find him.

There are many unique twists and turns to keep readers interested. Both Bea and Jonah have parent issues. Bea's mother's behavior is increasingly bizarre which both annoys and worries Bea. Jonah has lived with his unemotional father all these years, but now emotions are running on high as Jonah questions the truth about his long lost twin. Scattered through the narrative are glimpses into the Night Lights radio program in the form of dialogue sections highlighting the callers comments and questions.

Overall HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT is a captivating book just unique enough to make it stand apart from the usual adventure, drinking/sex party, vampire romance books that seem to be filling the YA shelves of late. This book is a worthy addition to any library, classroom, or personal collection.

WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #10

Here's one I'll have to put on my future reading list.

THE LAB by Jack Heath

Summary courtesy of Barnes & Noble:

"Meet a 16-year-old superhuman: Agent Six of Hearts. He's the strongest, most effective agent in the Deck, a team of special agents fighting to uphold justice in a completely corrupt world. Six would be invincible if not for a deadly secret. He is the product of an illegal experiment by the Lab - a ruthless division of the corporation that controls his world. When the Deck begins to investigate the Lab, Six walks a tightrope between his two worlds, trying to keep his origin a secret. But then he meets Kyntak, a boy whose past equals his own. As Six's life spirals out of control, he must face his most dangerous, thrilling mission yet."

TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS

TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS is when I post the opening lines of the book I'm currently reading.

Every reader is different, but I know the opening lines of a book can make or break my reading experience. By sharing the first few lines of what I'm reading, perhaps I can tempt readers to check out a book they might otherwise have passed up.

Here's TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS #4.

HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT
by Natalie Standiford

"Goebbels materialized on the back patio, right before we moved to Baltimore, and started chewing throught the wicker love seat. We figured he was an escapee from one of the neighbors' houses, probably the Flanagans two doors down. The Flanagans had a lot of pets, and the parents looked the other way while their sons, Pat and Paul, fed them various foods that animals shouldn't eat, like Twinkies and Pop Rocks, and then raced them to see how the food affected their performance."

WILLOW by Julia Hoban

Yes, I've finally gotten around to reading this one. Ever since the first review was posted about WILLOW, I've been excited to read it, and now I can say I've done it. It was good, but not as good as I was anticipating. Maybe it was all the hoopla about it that got me hoping for something a bit more compelling. That said, I still enjoyed it, and I know many other readers will, too.

Willow is a cutter, and she has every reason to be one. If the idea of cutting is to feel physical pain in order not to feel emotional pain, then she is the perfect example of someone who needs that sort of release. Willow was driving the car the night both her parents were killed. Talk about emotional baggage!

Now an orphan living with her older brother, his wife, and their infant daughter, Willow is attempting to put her life back together. She's attending a new school and trying to catch up on her studies, and all she can think of is how everyone must know about the accident and consider her a killer. Her incredible guilt won't allow her to face her brother and talk about the pain he must be feeling, too. Instead, she keeps it all inside, using a razorblade to control the feelings she can't express aloud.

While working at the library job her brother arranged for her at the college where he teaches, she meets Guy. He recognizes her from school and the fact that he has taken a class her brother taught. For a few short moments during their conversation, she is able to relax and even laugh for the first time in seven months. Hesitantly, she begins a friendship with Guy, but when he discovers her secret cutting, his insistent pressure for her to stop is almost more than the fragile friendship can withstand.

Readers will follow Willow as she struggles to adjust to the massive changes in her life and come to terms with her part in her parents’ death. She is desperate to reconnect with her brother but is afraid he will never forgive her as he is forced to take on the role of parent and provider. Several new classmates, as well as Guy, try to reach out to Willow, but she doesn't make it easy when they attempt to include her in their circle. Her guilt increases as her grades spiral downward and her need to cut becomes an obsession.

Author Julia Hoban vividly describes Willow's cutting so readers are able to feel her uncontrollable need to suffer physical pain as a method to relieve her anxiety. Some many interpret the graphic description and the constant references to cutting as over-the-top, but just like any behavior used to control unwanted emotion; it is an ever-present part of life for a character like Willow. I appreciated that Guy didn't play the role of "knight in shining armor" hoping to whisk Willow away from her pain and solve all her problems. Hoban had him step forward to offer support but step back when Willow needed space. Although, her supposed recovery comes after only one heartfelt conversation with her brother, I felt hopeful that things would indeed improve for Willow, and that she would eventually resume a healthy and relatively happy life.

MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD by Francisco X. Stork

There is so much research going on in the medical and educational fields regarding autism, I guess it was only a matter of time before subjects like the autism spectrum and conditions like Asperger's syndrome started to creep into the plots of YA fiction. Actually, it is an excellent way to introduce the subject in a real world setting. Characters like Stork's Marcelo are often misunderstood and taunted by their peers. Reading about characters with autism and learning how they think and feel, can raise awareness and a better understanding of them as everyday people.

Marcelo is now seventeen. He is very intelligent and would most likely be described by professionals as high functioning. Growing up in a caring family and attending a special school has enabled him to develop his talents and cope with life's challenges. Marcelo's father has always entertained the desire for Marcelo to attend regular public school, however, his son is hesitant to leave the safe environment of Paterson, a school for students with special needs.

As an attorney in a prestigious law firm, Marcelo's father issues a summer challenge. He wants his son to work in the firm's mailroom as a way to learn to deal with what he calls the "real" world. If Marcelo is successful in handling the requirements of the job, he will be able to choose between return to his beloved Paterson or going to the local public high school.

He is more than capable of handle the work required with the mailroom job, but the social interaction and people skills prove challenging for Marcelo. Everyone in the law firm is aware of his possible limitations which makes him nervous and concerned that he will fail. His immediate supervisor in the mailroom is a beautiful, young woman named Jasmine. Since a friend of hers was passed over for the job, she is not pleased with Marcelo's presence as a co-worker, but his ability to handle most tasks and his quiet working style win her over.

Marcelo's experience on the job allows him to interact with a wide variety of people and introduces him to both the ethical and unethical aspects of the working world. He sees the sleazy side of legal proceedings and even learns that the father he has so long admired is not the perfect lawyer or even the perfect man.

Author Francisco X. Stork does an excellent job of illustrating the workings of the autistic mind. Readers will be able to see and feel the wide range of emotions Marcelo experiences as he ventures into his father's world. The story provides a better understanding of this often discussed condition, but it also includes intrigue, humor, and suspense. Although labeled as a young adult selection, many adults will find this satisfying reading as well.

WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #9

ALCATRAZ VERSUS THE EVIL LIBRARIANS by Brandon Sanderson is on my classroom shelf. According to Ms. Yingling's blog, it is a pretty good read, although not many of my students have given it a try.

When I have the time, I want to read it so I can tell them about it and encourage them to sign it out.

Has anyone else read it? What did you think?

HEY! IT'S A NEW CONTEST AND AN AUTHOR INTERVIEW

It's time for a new contest! I'm giving away a copy of PURGE by Sarah Darer Littman.

All you have to do is leave a comment about something interesting in the interview that follows, and please include an email where I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.

*Contest ends December 20.
**Only US and Canada entries please.

I first met Sarah Darer Littman on MySpace. Her posts were insightful and often hilarious. After reading her first book CONFESSIONS OF A CLOSET CATHOLIC, I was hooked. PURGE is her second book, and I'm happy to report she's written another and is hard at work on a fourth. But I'll shut up now so you can read her interview and find out some great stuff straight from her.

Readingjunky: When did you first think about being a writer?

Sarah Darer Littman: I wanted to be a writer back in high school and thought I would go to college and major in English but my father was like: "How are you going to make a living as an English major?" Unfortunately I wasn't strong enough to follow through on the courage of my convictions and I ended up on a completely different path - with an undergraduate degree in politics and an MBA in Finance, of all things. It wasn't until I was approaching 40 and having a mid-life crisis that I thought I didn't want to be in my nursing home thinking, "What would have happened if?" I knew I had to at least give myself a chance at pursuing my dream, even if I failed.

RJ: What was your biggest inspiration for PURGE?

SDL: I was inspired to write PURGE when my mother sent me a picture of myself as a teenager. ( http://sarahdarerlittman.com/_Media/se_caribeean_bikini77.jpg) When I first looked at it, as a 40-something year old woman, I thought, "Wow, I had a good figure." But almost immediately the voice of the girl in the photo started up in my brain - the one that thought she was fat and ugly. I've suffered from body image problems my whole life and was actively bulimic in my late 30's. When I thought about how energy I've spent hating my body and the way I look, energy that could have been put to better and more creative uses - well, I hoped that if by writing PURGE I could help even one person not to make that same mistake it would be worthwhile.

RJ: What drives your writing most?

SDL: Characters, plot, personal experience …Character is the most important for me, but the process seems to be different with each book. The idea for CONFESSIONS OF A CLOSET CATHOLIC came from an exercise on character webbing, and I really had no idea where the plot was going when I started - I just had a very strong sense of the MC, Justine. With PURGE, personal experience played a more important role because of the nature of the story, but character was still the driving force. My upcoming novel, LIFE, AFTER, required a lot of research and the research framed the plot more than in my two previous novels. The novel I’m working on now, WANT TO GO PRIVATE? is about a girl who becomes involved with an Internet predator, and it’s more plot-driven than anything I’ve ever worked on before.

Writing each book is a learning experience.

RJ: Do any of your characters resemble you in any way?

SDL: Justine in CONFESSIONS OF A CLOSET CATHOLIC probably resembles me the most, being a short frizzy-haired Jewish girl (True Confessions: Hooray for Japanese Straightening!) with an obsessive love of chocolate.

RJ: Does any particular type of music inspire your creativity?

SDL: I can’t write with music playing unless it’s classical, because if there are words I start singing along and that’s not pleasant for anyone within earshot. Even the dog hides. I have Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos and Handel’s Water Music on my iPhone so that if I’m working at a café and there are people gabbing really loudly and distracting me, I can plug in the earbuds and tune them out. But at home I work to the sounds of the voices in my head.

Oh dear. That sounds vaguely psychotic, doesn’t it?

RJ: Can you describe a day in your writing schedule?

SDL: I get up at 6:30am to get my kids up and out to school by 7:30. Once they’re gone, I’ll have a cup of coffee, quick scan of the newspaper, check Facebook and Twitter and various political blogs, and then take the dog for a walk. By 8:30 I make another cup of coffee and head down to my basement Writing Lair to work. I’ll be there until 2 or 3, depending on if it’s a carpool driving day. Once the kids get home from school, my life is spent in the car or in waiting rooms or in the café at Barnes and Noble, trying to squeeze in a little more work time in between chauffeuring duties. Thank heavens for laptops!

RJ: What is most rewarding about being a published author?

SDL: Receiving letters from readers who have felt a connection with your characters or felt inspired in some way by your books, whether it's to explore their connection with faith or to seek help for a body image problem or to write themselves. I also really enjoy speaking in schools - I’m quite passionate about telling kids how important it is to learn to write well even if you don’t plan to be an author, because future employers will judge you on your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

RJ: Who are some of your favorite authors?

SDL: This is one of the questions I always find hardest to answer. It’s like asking me if I have a favorite child. I will admit to having a major author crush on Markus Zusak, though.

RJ: What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?

SDL: Read. Read. Read. Then get your butt in the chair and write, write, write. I basically wrote two “practice novels” before CONFESSIONS OF A CLOSET CATHOLIC. One was a middle grade about an escape artist class hamster and another was an adult novel about a woman in an unhappy marriage. Neither will ever see the light of day, I suspect, but my writing improved immensely for having written them.

Take classes. It’s important to keep honing your craft. Join a critique group. Learn how to give and receive criticism kindly, effectively, and hopefully with a sense of humor. My critique group is wonderful that way.

Become a member of the SCBWI. It’s a fantastic resource, a great way to meet other authors, learn a lot about craft, the publishing industry, and the people within it. I got my first book contract after hearing my editor speak at an SCBWI conference and realizing that she had the quirky sense of humor required for a book about a girl who’d decided to give up being Jewish for Lent.

RJ: Can you tell us anything about your current projects?

SDL: I’ve just sent my editor the manuscript for a book called WANT TO GO PRIVATE? (at least that’s the working title) which is scheduled for publication in 2011. It’s about Abby, a ninth grader who becomes involved with an Internet predator. It’s been a fascinating and very disturbing book to research and write. Fascinating because I’ve been working with my local FBI office and the Youth Division of Greenwich Police, and I’ve had an opportunity to see how they are working to track down these predators and keep our kids safe. Disturbing in so many ways – because you realize how easy it is for kids to get in trouble and how clueless most parents are about what their kids are up to online. I also found it very hard when I was writing suggestive chat scenes between Abby and the predator and my 13 year-old daughter would come home from school. I felt like saying to her, “Stay away from me, I’m being a pervert right now!” I felt like I wanted to take a shower after writing those scenes, and for a while starting having nightmares.

When I had a research meeting with the FBI, I asked the agents how they managed to deal with this kind of stuff day in and day out without getting nightmares. The Supervisory Special Agent told me they can sleep because they know they're doing this to keep these guys from doing such crimes do anyone else.

Still, writing this made me wonder how people write books about serial killers!

RJ: And finally, what is your favorite way to relax?
'
SDL: I love to take a hot bath at the end of the day with some nice “smellies” in it and relax with a good book. I have one of those fancy Jacuzzi baths but I never use it because the bubbles would get my books wet and books > bubbles!

A great big THANKS to Sarah for the interview. I hope Santa brings her LOTS and LOTS of chocolate!!!

THE VAST FIELDS OF ORDINARY by Nick Burd

Dade is marking time during that awkward summer between high school and college. Things at home are not the greatest so he welcomes the chance to get out. Unfortunately, his crappy job at Food World is about the closest he comes to getting out.

For as long as he can remember he has been quietly repeating the words, "I am gay." He knows it is true but can't bring himself to tell his parents. Maybe when he is away at school in Michigan, he can break the news to them, but certainly not while he is still right here in Cedarville. They have enough problems of their own.

Over a year ago he did open up to Pablo. They have shared many intimate moments during their time together, but Pablo still insists in public that he has a girlfriend which leaves Dade feeling used and alone.

This summer may have brought one bit of luck - Alex. From the moment Dade meet him and saw his gorgeous smile, he's been wanting to spend time with him and find out what they might have in common. Alex isn't easy though. He doesn't run with the same crowd as Dade and hooking up is proving harder than he expected.

Dade is filled with confusion about his sexuality, uncertainty about his readiness for college, and a general inability to form lasting relationships. He bounces back and forth in odd friendships with Pablo, Lucy a neighbors' niece, Alex, and twins named Jessica and Fessica. All the while he worries - about his parents, his future, and the mysterious disappearance of a local nine year old. Can he manage to handle all this and keep himself together until he can head off to school?

THE VAST FIELDS OF ORDINARY offers the perfect example a teen-angst drama. First time author Nick Burd captures the crazy mix of emotions and the desire to gain some sort of control that most teens face at one time or another as they struggle toward adulthood. His writing style makes for a smooth and satisfying read.

WHAT BOOKS WOULD MY 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS WANT IF THEY WERE STRANDED ON A DESERTED ISLAND?

Here are their picks -

TWILIGHT, NEW MOON, ECLIPSE, or BREAKING DAWN by Stephenie Meyer
SIDE EFFECTS by Amy Goldman Koss
GLASS or IDENTICAL by Ellen Hopkins
ZOOBREAK by Gordon Korman
SEA OF TROLLS by Nancy Farmer
DELTORA QUEST by Emily Rodda
THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES by Jeff Kinney
WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr
PAPER TOWNS by John Green
A LIGHT IN THE STORM by Karen Hesse
THE WINTER OF THE RED SNOW by Kristiana Gregory
CIRQUE DU FREAK : SONS OF DESTINY by Darren Shan

TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS

I've started a new Tuesday post called TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS in which I post the opening lines of the book I'm currently reading.

Every reader is different, but I know the opening lines of a book can make or break my reading experience. By sharing the first few lines of what I'm reading, perhaps I can tempt readers to check out a book they might otherwise have passed up.

Here's TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS #3.

THE VAST FIELDS OF ORDINARY
by Nick Burd

I spent a good part of my senior prom drawing DH + PS in a giant heart in the last stall of the Cedarville High boys' bathroom. It covered the entire wall and took two red markers and almost an hour to complete.

THE ROCK AND THE RIVER by Kekla Magoon

It's 1968 in the middle of the Civil Rights movement. Sam and his brother Stick are the sons of one of the leaders of the movement. They've known Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. most of their lives and known him well enough to share dinner at the same table. But being connected so closely to the center of the movement is not easy. Expectations are high to set good examples and to stand for what is right.

Sam begins to see his older brother taking a different approach when he starts sneaking out at night and asking Sam to cover for him while he's gone. Sam doesn't understand what Stick has gotten involved in until he meets Maxie. Sam finds her fascinating and begins to spend more time with her. As their relationship deepens, he learns that her older brother is involved in a new group known as the Black Panthers. Their approach to gaining freedom is not through non-violence like Dr. King. Instead they carry guns and organize protests that include more than carrying signs and giving speeches.

When Sam discovers Stick is involved with the Black Panthers and learns that he even has a gun hidden in the bedroom they share, his first reaction is to cover up for his older brother. When pressed by his father for information, he reveals the truth violating his brother's trust and jeopardizing his relationship with Maxie who has followed her own brother's example and joined the group.

Young Sam faces a quick end to his childhood as he witnesses the beating of a close friend and false accusations that the friend actually caused it by threatening the cops who beat him. The death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and an attack on his own father lead Sam to believe maybe peaceful protests are not the answer.

Author Kekla Magoon brings this tumultuous time in history to life for readers of all ages, not just teens. Her story of Sam and his brother speak clearly about the feeling of the times, and perhaps even shed light on some of the problems of today. She vividly describes the frustration, the hatred, and the tension found in the streets of Chicago both before and after the tragic death of Dr. King. THE ROCK AND THE RIVER is a powerful statement about a powerful time.

BORDER CROSSING by Jessica Lee Anderson

Manz is barely holding things together. Life isn't too bad when his mother's boyfriend Tom is around to keep an eye on her drinking, but when Tom's gone on a long run cross-country, Delores is a mess.

There are memories of better times. Manz does remember his father, a Mexican nicknamed Loco. He worked hard at the nearby orchard and kept a roof over their heads. However, his nickname said how things really were, and his life ended in a head-on collision with a guardrail that was ruled an accident, although it probably was not.

It was rough at first when Delores met Tom. Manz didn't completely trust the guy, but when he saw how thrilled the two were to learn that Delores was pregnant, he thought maybe things might turn around. The devestating news that something was wrong with the baby ripped away any hope for better times.

Now Manz spends his time driving his mother to work and hoping she stays sober enough to handle things around the house and maybe even return to the painting that made her so happy before little Gabriel died. When he's not worrying about his mother, Manz picks up odd jobs with his friend Jed as he tries to keep him on the straight and narrow so Jed's abusive father won't kill him.

It's no wonder that Manz begins hearing voices. Along with the voices, there are visions and feelings of paranoia. Having no one he feels he can confide in, Manz begins listening to the voices hoping they can provide the answers no one else can.

BORDER CROSSING is a multi-layer novel that explores dysfunctional families, illegal immigrants, and mental illness. Jessica Lee Anderson gives readers a glimpse into the mind of a young man attempting to keep his mother's life and his best friend's life on track when his own is beginning a freefall toward destruction. BORDER CROSSING will challenge readers to sort through the confusing thoughts and emotions of young Manz as he struggles to keep his life from crumbling beyond repair.

YOU ARE HERE by Jennifer E. Smith

Emma has never felt a part of her family. Her parents, professors at a local college, and her much older siblings are always discussing poetry, philosophy, or topics important to the world. She is more interested in the here and now, not in deep intellectual thoughts.

Her feelings of not fitting in are dramatically increased the day she stumbles across the birth certificate of a twin brother she never knew she had. When she also discovers his death certificate tucked away in the same box in the attic, she can't believe that no one ever told her.

Turning 17 in less than a week, Emma decides to get her older brother to take her to his apartment in New York City. Once she gets there, her real plan is to "borrow" his car and travel to North Carolina to visit her twin's grave. When the car gives out at a rest stop along the New Jersey turnpike, she calls her neighbor Peter Finnegan, another soon-to-be 17 year old.

Peter is dealing with his own personal conflicts. He has grown up with just his father since his mother died shortly after his birth. Lately, his frustration with his silent and often absent father, and the desire to leave town and see the world, are almost more than he can tolerate. When he gets Emma's call for help, he sees it as the perfect opportunity to hit the road, see some of the sights he's dream of, and also spend time with a girl he realizes he's had a crush on for quite some time.

Together the two loners begin a journey that will change them both. Not only do the teens come to know one another better, but their families also begin to recognize the ways they could be more present and supportive.

YOU ARE HERE is a carefully crafted story about families and relationships and the secrets that complicate them. Author Jennifer E. Smith has created a intricately layered cast of characters that give readers a peek into the various of ways humans handle tragedy and conflict. Smith's depth and sensitivity make YOU ARE HERE a must read.

ONE OF THE SURVIVORS by Susan Shaw

They say survivors of tragic accidents suffer not only the personal trauma of the tragedy, but also feelings of guilt as the "lucky" ones who survived the event. What if that guilt is compounded by the fact that the survivors are also being accused of causing the deadly event?

Joey has already survived one fire - the one that killed his mother barely a year ago. Now he and his friend Maureen have survived a fire at their high school that claimed the lives of everyone else in their history class including the teacher Mr. Austen. Since the two fourteen year olds were the only students in the classroom to survive, people in the community have decided to accuse them of starting the fire in the first place. The reasoning behind the accusation - how else would they have known that the fire alarm was not just a test.

That day the new fire alarm system was being tested. It started clanging before classes were even in session. Throughout the day the fire alarm would sound, and the principal would announce over the PA that it was just a test. Joey became more and more unnerved each time the alarm went off, until finally in history class, he snapped. Even though Mr. Austen threatened him with detention, Joey stood up and announced he was leaving the building. Everyone knew about his mother's tragic death, but only Maureen knew Joey well enough to recognize his panic. As they both left the classroom and the building, they accepted the fact they might be punished their disobedience. However, when they arrived outside to find the building was indeed on fire, their world changed forever.

ONE OF THE SURVIVORS by Susan Shaw is the story of Joey's life after the fire and his struggle to cope with the angry accusations of some in his community and to deal with his own private grief and guilt. Shaw uses a mix of Joey's personal journal entries and narrative accounts of the events surrounding the time leading up to and including the fire. Readers will witness the emotional turmoil Joey experiences as he relives his mother's death and the senseless deaths of his fellow classmates. Shaw's control of the events and the way she gradually reveals the facts create a riveting read.

BREAK by Hannah Moskowitz

Is the feeling of exhilaration? Is it the possibility that it will make him stronger? Or is it an attempt to help his brother? Jonah doesn't know why he is driven to do it, but he does know it may be out of control.

Jonah breaks himself. He breaks his own bones. Staged skateboard accidents, intentional falls from high places, or direct blows with a heavy object - whatever it takes to break his bones. He keeps a tally of total breaks with his goal being the magic total in the human body - 206.

There's anorexia, bulimia, and cutting as a way to control the world around you, but Jonah seems to have found another method. The resulting pain and adrenaline rush give him special pleasure, but the real reason is linked to his younger brother Jesse. Jesse was born allergic to everything. He can't be in the same room as a cooking egg or spilled milk. He can't even touch their youngest brother for fear that he might be wearing traces of their mother's breast milk. All their friends are cautioned not to breath in his presence after eating certain foods like peanut butter. Even airborne contact with just about everything can stop cover him in hives and stop his breathing, sending him to the emergency room and possible death.

As people gradually begin to realize Jonah is not just a klutz, and that his broken bones are some sort of cry for help, he finds himself defending his strange obsession in an attempt to prove he is not crazy. Is there another way to control the world around him, or will one of the breaks end everything?

First time author Hannah Moskowitz has created a truly unique tale. In a modern world of escapist behavior, she has created a character with a whole new twist of self-destruction. BREAK gripped me on the first page, and I couldn't put it down. Jonah's family takes "dysfunctional" in a totally new direction that had me almost talking back to the book. The emotions that drive the characters practically jump off the page and demand attention. I can't wait to read her next book.

WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #8

I've had a copy of CLICK for quite some time, but never seem to be able to fit it into my reading schedule. The fact that it was written by a team of popular YA authors fascinates me.

Here's a summary courtesy of Barnes & Noble:

A video message from a dead person. A larcenous teenager. A man who can stick his left toe behind his head and in his ear. An epileptic girl seeking answers in a fairy tale. A boy who loses everything in World War II, and his brother who loses even more. And a family with a secret so big that it changes everything. The world's best beloved authors each contribute a chapter in the life of the mysterious George "Gee" Keane, photographer, soldier, adventurer and enigma. Under different pens, a startling portrait emerges of a man, his family, and his gloriously complicated tangle of a life.

The full list of authors includes: Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize-winning author of A STAR CALLED HENRY; Nick Hornby, author of ABOUT A BOY; Ruth Ozeki, author of MY YEAR OF MEATS; Margo Lanagan, Prinz Honor Award-winning author of BLACK JUICE; Linda Sue Park, Newbery Award-winning author of A SINGLE SHARD; David Almond, winner of the Whitbread Award and Carnegie Medal and author of SKELLIG; Gregory Maguire, author of WICKED; Tim Wynne-Jones, two-time winner of Canada's Governor General's award and author of ONE OF THE KINDER PLANETS; Deborah Ellis, author of THE BREADWINNER; Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl Books. And more are signing on!

I'm hoping to tempt some of my new 9th grade students with it so they can give me a idea about how it reads. Time will tell.

TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS

I've started a new Tuesday post called TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS in which I post the opening lines of the book I'm currently reading.

Every reader is different, but I know the opening lines of a book can make or break my reading experience. By sharing the first few lines of what I'm reading, perhaps I can tempt readers to check out a book they might otherwise have passed up.

Here's TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS #2.

BREAK
by Hannah Moskowitz

The first feeling is exhilaration.
My arms hit the ground. The sound is like a mallet against a crab.

MESSED UP by Janet Nichols Lynch

R.D. never knew his father, and his mother is in prison. He was raised by his grandmother, but she up and left him with her boyfriend Earl so she could run off with a hairy truck driver. R.D. has promised to clean up his act and get through the eighth grade this year for sure, but it's the first day of school and things aren't starting off very well since he's suspended for fighting by lunch time.

Earl tries to keep R.D. out of trouble and encourage him to stick with it at school, but he has some serious health issues dating back to his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam. Ever since R.D.'s grandmother left, Earl has been having more frequent attacks that leave him gasping for breath and sending R.D. in search of his inhaler. Just a few short weeks into the school year, R.D. gets off the bus and discovers Earl on the bathroom floor, dead.

With no way to contact his grandmother and no one else to turn to, R.D. decides to try to handle things himself. He deals with the funeral home people, handles the questions from nosy neighbors, and manages through trial and error to keep himself feed and the bills paid. Surprisingly, this forced independence turns R.D. into a more reliable student at school and has him learning things about life he never would have thought possible.

MESSED UP by Janet Nichols Lynch is a heart-warming and riveting read. R.D. starts out as an underachieving, gangster wannabe who turns his life around through hard work and determination. Readers will learn right along with him as he deals with the everyday, practical aspects of survival. He learns to shop for groceries and clothes and teaches himself how to cook and clean. For someone who pretty much let the world just happen around him, he takes on the challenge of making his own way and succeeds. MESSED UP is an excellent addition to any library or classroom collection.

THE GOOD NEIGHBORS: KIN by Holly Black & Ted Naifeh

What if you suddenly found out you are not who or even what you think you are? Rue Silver discovers she is not even human, but instead she's a faerie.

Rue's mother disappeared and has been missing for several weeks. Her father is arrested and held as a suspect in not only her mother's disappearance, but also as a suspect in the death of one of his young students. Rue is left looking for answers.

Her friends are being supportive, but when Rue starts seeing things that she's afraid are not really there, doubts begin to surface about her sanity. She's suspected for quite some time that her mother might be crazy, and now her mother has returned to tell Rue the whole story.

THE GOOD NEIGHBORS: KIN is Holly Black's latest project. It is the first in a new series done in a graphic novel format. Complete with faeries, magical transformations, and a dark side, it represents Black's style well. Her fans are likely to enjoy this new direction, and it will probably earn her a new following as well.

SWIM THE FLY by Don Calame

Matt and his two buddies, Cooper and Sean, have set a goal every summer. This summer is no different, except Matt thinks their goal is a bit more ambitious than usual. They want to see a girl naked.

Every move they make is carefully planned to achieve their goal. They've picked out the girl, and now it's just a matter of having the right opportunity present itself. Unfortunately, no one ever realized the number of obstacles that could be encountered along the way.

In an effort to keep busy while they wait for that perfect moment, the guys figure they might as well join the local swim team like they have every summer. One thing Matt didn't plan on was meeting the new girl, Kelly. What luck - a beautiful girl, wearing nothing but a swimsuit right there at the pool every day. It's enough to make a guy do something stupid, and Matt does. When the team's coach, Ms. Luntz, asks for a volunteer to swim the butterfly in the relay event, Matt, wanting to impress Kelly, raises his hand. It's a move he knows he'll regret, but he can't seem stop himself.

Between hanging out with his pals, making plans toward their "goal", attempting to learn the butterfly (the most difficult of all the strokes), and dealing with his wacky family, Matt has his hands full. He seems to be living through the summer going from one near disaster to the next.

SWIM THE FLY is the first novel for author Don Calame. His hilarious descriptions of Matt's experiences, while exaggerated, still sparkle with glimmers of reality for anyone going through their teen years or remembering them with traces of fear and fondness. It is fast-paced and laugh out loud funny.

INTERVIEW WITH BOBBIE PYRON, AUTHOR OF THE RING

Welcome to my first author interview!

I read and reviewed THE RING by Bobbie Pyron recently and was pleased to see the author found the interview here on my blog, and she even stopped by to comment. She not only commented, but she also offered to let me interview her. So without further ado, here's the scoop on Bobbie Pyron and her new novel, THE RING.

Readingjunky: When did you first think about being a writer?

Bobbie Pyron: I wanted to be a writer from the time I was about nine years old. I just couldn't imagine anything more wonderful! I got a spiral notebook and wrote for days in a row—a badly plagiarized story about two orphan, runaway children and some wild horse.
I also wrote some rather bad poetry in high school. I started writing seriously about six years ago. I started with picture books and then crossed over to “the dark side” of novels.

RJ: What was your biggest inspiration for THE RING?

BP: My stepdaughter. When she was fourteen, she was going through a rather challenging time. After being grounded for the millionth time, she read an article in our local paper about a girls' boxing club. She handed me the paper, pointed to the article and said, "I want to do that." So her dad and I signed her up for classes. She went to training two nights a week. I took her one of the nights. I was intrigued with the girls who were taking the classes. And like most writers, I'm an incorrigible eavesdropper, so I listened to them talk about the stresses at school and at home. Over and over I heard them say how they could be themselves in the ring.

RJ: What drives your writing most? Characters, plot, personal experience ...

BP: I would say that, just like in my reading, my writing is very character driven. Sometimes the plot and the character come to me almost simultaneously. Actually, it usually does. But no matter how great an idea I have for a plot, I can't write a darn thing until the voice comes. Whether it's first person or third, the voice has to come to me and talk to me before I can write one word.

RJ: Do any of your characters resemble you in any way?

BP: Oh, the stepmother, Amy, is like me in some obvious ways: she's from the south, she's a librarian, she loves her dogs. But Amy is a much more patient stepmother that I was!

RJ: Does any particular type of music inspire your creativity?

BP: It really varies with what I'm working on. For THE RING, I listened to a lot of Ani DeFranco, The Fray, Coldplay, Avril Levine, and Frou Frou. For the middle-grade novel I have coming out in early 2011, I listened to lots and lots of bluegrass and country music because it's set in the Appalachian Mountains.

RJ: Can you describe a day in your writing schedule?

BP: I try to take care of email business while I'm still kind of groggy in the morning. Then I take the dogs for a short walk to wake up my brain. When I get back, I fix a cup of tea, fire up the computer, and try to write for about two hours. If I'm lucky and my schedule allows, I like to write for another hour or two in the afternoon after I've gotten the dogs out for a longer jaunt. I do work part time as a librarian, so some days I only get a short amount of time to write.

RJ: What is most rewarding about being a published author?

BP: I have to say, the first time I saw THE RING displayed face out in a bookstore, I almost wet my pants. It was such an amazing thing! But the real reward is hearing kids say how much they love the book and how Mardie is "just like them."

RJ: Who are some of your favorite authors?

BP: I read mostly young adult and juvenile fiction. For teen authors, my favorites are Chris Crutcher, Libba Bray, Sarah Dessen, Jerry Spinelli, Pete Hautman, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Sonja Hartnett. For middle-grade favorite authors, Cynthia Rylant, Kate DeCamillo, Patricia Reilly Giff, Susan Patron, Sharon Creech, and Ann M. Martin.

RJ: What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?

BP: Funny you should ask: I just posted about this on my blog! My biggest piece of advice is to take yourself seriously as a writer. Because if you don't, nobody else will. And don't get in you own way of writing by coming up with excuses why you can't write on a given day. If John Grisham could write two novels in a tiny closet while he worked 50+ hours a week as an attorney, you and I can find the time and space, too! A great book to help you make the most of your limited time and the least of your excuses is PEN ON FIRE by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett.

RJ: Can you tell us anything about your current projects?

BP: I have a middle-grade novel being published by HarperCollins in early 2011. It's a dog story called A DOG'S WAY HOME. I'm very excited about it!

RJ: And finally, what is your favorite way to relax?

BP: Oh, I love to be outdoors! I love to hike, backpack, ski, and snowshoe with my dogs (I have three) and my husband. I like to get really tired and then come home and curl up with a good book.

I want to extend a big thank you to Bobbie for taking the time to answer all my questions. If you want to learn more about her or THE RING, just pop on over to her website at http://www.bobbiepyron.com/

WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #7

ALABAMA MOON by Watt Key is a book my students occasionally read. Not many choose it, but those who do read it, really enjoy it.

They tell me it is a great survival story about a boy who has to make it on his own after his father dies. It is often compared to Gary Paulsen's HATCHET.

I've got to get around to reading it soon.

REPLACING "TEASER TUESDAY" WITH "TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS"

I'm going to start a new Tuesday post called TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS in which I post the opening lines of the book I'm currently reading.

Every reader is different, but I know the opening lines of a book can make or break my reading experience. By sharing the first few lines of what I'm reading, perhaps I can tempt readers to check out a book they might otherwise have passed up.

Without further ado, here's TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS #1. (I think you'll like it.)

SWIM THE FLY
by Don Calame

"Movies don't count," Cooper says. "The Internet doesn't count. Magazines don't count. A real, live naked girl. That's the deal. That's our goal for this summer."

SURF MULES by G. Neri

It's almost time for graduation, and Logan Tom has no idea what he wants to do. He's been accepted at one university but has no clue how he'll pay for it or if he even wants to go. All he really wants to do is surf.

Surfing with his buddies since age eight, Logan only feels alive in the ocean. Lately, his relationships have been pretty rocky, but he's hoping that will turn around. Z-Boy, Fin , and Logan have always been known as the three Musketeers, at least until the blow up with Fin. A girl was at the center of the fight, and Logan will forever have regrets. Those regrets are compounded by the fact that mere days before graduation, Fin is killed in a surfing accident that leaves Logan with doubts about his own life and whether having future plans even matters.

With money a huge obstacle in the way of college plans and relaxing days filled with surfing, Logan lets his friend Z-Boy talk him into a dangerous situation. With Fin gone, the two remaining friends are approached to replace him as "mules" transporting 100 pounds of marijuana from California to Orlando, Florida. Logan knows the decision is unwise, but the promise of quick cash is too much to resist.

A local distributor sets the plan in action and the two young men head off in a Crown Victoria for the two and a half day cross-country trip. Logan knows that with Z-Boy along almost anything is possible, and it doesn't take long for things to go terribly wrong. He just hopes they can successfully complete the delivery and return home safely.

Author G. Neri not only brings the world of surfing to life for his readers, but he also defines the true meaning of friendship and commitment. Readers will sympathize with the emotionally torn Logan, and at the same time enjoy the crazy antics of Z-Boy. The surfing backdrop provides an adrenaline rush that compliments the more serious subjects of uncertain futures and senseless tragedy. SURF MULES has me looking forward to whatever G. Neri has to offer next.

THE RING by Bobbie Pyron

Mardie is 15 and headed down a path to destruction. Constantly living in the shadow of her successful older brother, she is seeks attention in negative ways until she discovers boxing. It might just be the thing that saves her.

As the story begins, Mardie's grades are slipping. She has the attention of one of the most popular guys in school and finding ways to party with him consumes most of her time. Even though he is making it pretty obvious that he is interested in just one thing, she's enjoying the jealous looks she gets from every girl in school.

Life is becoming a series of lies told to her father and stepmother. Mardie's beginning to question whether the lies are worth it because so far she's had to call both her brother and stepmother to pick her up from parties where things have gone terribly wrong. The result - she's been grounded and lost her cell phone privileges. Being caught shoplifting $93 worth of merchandise was the last straw. Now it doesn't matter if she's invited to parties because her evenings are filled with walking the dogs and going to the local fitness center with her stepmother.

It's while hanging out at the fitness center, that Mardie discovers boxing. Tired of reading and doing homework, she wanders around and stumbles across a girls' boxing workout. Encouraged to join in by the instructor, Kitty, she's hooked. Convincing her father that it's a good idea is a bit difficult, but with the help of her stepmother, she succeeds.

Can boxing and training for an upcoming championship fight turn things around for Mardie? Will it be enough to help her learn to accept her stepmother, deal with her demanding father, and understand that her older brother is gay?

Author Bobbie Pyron takes readers into the unusual world of female boxers. She mixes the physical release of the sport with the roller-coaster emotions of a teenager. What the story lacks in depth is made up for in action and plot twists most teens will be able to understand. THE RING is a quick read that might open up new possibilities for those looking for something out of the ordinary.